From professional cyclist to farmer: Thibaut Pinot one year after the end of his career

Thibaut Pinot, one of the most popular French professional cyclists of the last decade, has successfully settled into his post-professional life. In an in-depth interview in the 36th episode of the French podcast "Entre la selle et la pédale", the former captain of the Groupama-FDJ team gave an insight into his new everyday life as a farmer. Pinot, who ended his career last year, was best known for his goats - he even created an Instagram profile for one of them. He now runs a farm with 50 cattle and 80 sheep and seems to have found fulfilment in his new life away from professional cycling. The interview, which was published on 14 October 2025, shows a relaxed and satisfied Pinot looking back on his career while sharing his thoughts on the current development of cycling.

In the podcast, the Frenchman talks in detail about his biggest Successesincluding his victories in the Tour of Lombardy and his stage wins in the Vuelta a España. He has particularly emotional memories of his moments at the Tour de France, where he was never able to reach the podium in Paris despite several promising attempts. His dramatic challenges at the Tour of Franceespecially in 2019, when he had to pull out in tears on the way to the podium due to a muscle injury, have made him a tragic figure in French cycling, which is precisely why he was particularly loved by the fans.

Thibaut Pinot: from the peloton to the farm

The transition from professional sport to life as a farmer seems to have been easy for Pinot. "I don't miss much from my time as a professional," explains the former climber in the interview. What he misses most is the camaraderie on the team bus and the shared experiences with his team-mates. The daily training, the competitions and the associated pressure, on the other hand, are aspects that he does not miss. His farm with 50 cattle and 80 sheep keeps him sufficiently busy and gives him a new task in which he can immerse himself.

During his active career, Pinot was known for his reserved nature and often avoided the limelight. This character trait fits in well with his new life away from the public eye. In the rural surroundings of his home in the French Jura, he finds the peace and quiet that he already appreciated so much during his career. The former pro tells the podcast that he still cycles regularly, but without the pressure to perform and purely for pleasure. He particularly enjoys the freedom of being on the road without a training plan or a power meter.

The Pogačar era and modern cycling

Pinot's views on the current development of cycling are particularly interesting. The Frenchman speaks openly about the dominance of Tadej Pogačar and the changes that the sport has undergone in recent years. "Cycling has changed completely," Pinot realises. The way races are run today - with early attacks and high speed right from the start - is fundamentally different from his active days. Today's dominance of individual teams and riders like Pogačar leads to a more predictable race. Nevertheless, he shows respect for the achievements of the current generation, especially Pogačar, whose skills he describes as exceptional. At the same time, he hints that he is glad he no longer has to compete against this new generation, whose level of performance he finds impressive but also disconcerting.

Thibaut Pinot Career highlights

During the interview, Thibaut Pinot looks back on the highlights of his career. He counts his victory at the Giro di Lombardia 2018, one of the most prestigious one-day races on the cycling calendar, as one of his greatest successes. His stage wins in all three grand tours - Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España - also fill him with pride. Pinot is one of the few riders to have achieved this triple.

At the same time, he speaks openly about the disappointments of his career, in particular the multiple setbacks at the Tour de France. The dramatic exit in 2019, when he had to abandon the race in third place overall, remains a painful memory. Nevertheless, Pinot emphasises that he has made peace with his career and is proud of what he has achieved. The love of the fans, who had taken him to their hearts precisely because of his vulnerability and authenticity, meant a lot to him.

Thibaut Pinot: Plans for the future

When asked about his plans for the future, Thibaut Pinot replies that he first wants to expand his cattle breeding business. He currently rules out a return to cycling as a sports director or in another role. He enjoys the distance from professional sport and the opportunity to follow races as a fan without feeling the pressure.

Nevertheless, Pinot remains connected to cycling. He continues to follow the big races and is still in contact with former team-mates. He is particularly interested in the development of young French talents such as Paul Seixas. At the same time, he warns against expecting too much from young riders. The pressure on young French riders is enormous and he knows from his own experience how difficult it is to cope with.

The interview in the podcast "Between the saddle and the pedal" shows a Thibaut Pinot who has found his place in life after his professional career. The authenticity and openness for which he was already appreciated during his active career also characterise this interview. Pinot remains true to himself - both as a farmer and as a professional cyclist.